Trevor John Ernest Quinn

June 13, 1932 – February 9, 2023

With heavy hearts the family of Trevor Quinn announce his peaceful passing on February 9, 2023 at River Heights Lodge, North Battleford.  We are so grateful that he taught us that the sun will shine again!

Trevor, born June 13, 1932 to Myrtle and Jack Quinn in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, was a younger brother to Alfred and an older brother to Edwin.  It is a wonder the boys survived childhood! They were always up to something. Trev lost the sight in his left eye at 6 years of age in a freak sledding accident and less than a year later almost sliced off his nose falling in the rock garden.  They were keen chemists and scientists, trying to blow up a backyard tree and chicken coop by making their own dynamite, and climbing power poles to rock them back and forth in order to swing the wires and create an electrical arc.

Trev enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a pharmacist. He earned both a Bachelor and a Master of Science Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan.  He was the South West Regional Hospital Council Pharmacist based in Swift Current from 1956 until 1959, when he established the first of two Quinn’s Pharmacies there. The stores retained his name even after he sold his shares in 1976.  After a brief stint as Fundraiser for St. Andrew’s College, the Quinns moved to Regina in 1977 where Trev became Director of Professional Services for the Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan.  He filled this role until his retirement in 1994 when he was named the Saskatchewan Pharmacist of the Year – a fitting culmination to his career and a reflection of the esteem in which he was held by his colleagues.

Pharmacy is only one thread in the tapestry of Trev’s life.  While in training he met a young nursing student, Norma May from North Battleford, Saskatchewan.  They were married in 1954 and have been blessed with over 68 years together. They shared an interest in bridge, visiting art galleries and museums, attending theatre productions and concerts, reading together and nightly Backgammon or Swoosh games. Together they curated a beautiful collection of paintings and glass art, including Trev’s own stained-glass creations. They enjoyed travelling.  Destinations included: Hawaii, Disneyland, Las Vegas, Lake Havasu, Chicago, England, across Canada and an 80th birthday celebration in New York with their children.

Trev and Norma have four children, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Trev was the best Husband, Dad and Poppa anyone could want.  He leaves us with a rich legacy of love for ice cream, family and friends, music, prose and poetry, humour and wisdom.  He taught us all how to lead and how to serve, how to find beauty and how to be grateful every day.

Trevor truly was a good and faithful servant.  He was a life member of Kinsmen, serving as President and District Governor.  He went on to join K40, and Kiwanis serving in a variety of leadership roles. He was always active in his church serving as board chair of First United Church in Swift Current and Wesley United Church in Regina, where he also led a youth group with Norma.  He sang in church choir as well as in a couple of smaller groups that performed around town at care homes. He was instrumental in starting the Barbershop Choir in Swift Current.  He enjoyed playing the clarinet in the Wesley United Dance Band, and the Meota Hobby Band during the summer.  Trev served on the Boards of the Regina Plains Museum and the Regina Early Learning Centre, both near and dear to his heart.

Trev loved to write, inspired by his mother, and his English teacher, Myra Stillborn.  He wrote for newsletters in high school, university, churches and service clubs and was an editor of “Gray Matters” a Saskatchewan Seniors’ publication.  In his spare time, he wrote delightful love notes to Norma, poetic scavenger hunts for his children and grandchildren, maintained a daily diary and penned a ‘Weakly’ Report to keep family updated on Quinn household happenings.  Upon retiring, he attended the Seniors’ University Writing Class, leaving us with a rich library of his creative writing, spanning over 20 years.

Trev and Norma moved to North Battleford in May 2021, bringing them closer to their beloved summer home at Meota on Jackfish Lake. Meota has always been a gathering place for our large extended family.  Memories and shared history provide us with a deep sense of where we have come from, which binds us together.  If Poppa could tell you one thing, he’d say “to honour that bond, to keep the family strong.  Stay in touch with your sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, cousins, whatever relatives possible.  Try to maintain those family connections, however you can, throughout your lifetime.”

In early December 2022, Trevor moved into River Heights Lodge.  The family wish to thank the staff from the Adult Day Program, to Brenda and all the East Side staff who treated him and our family with dignity and compassion. We are grateful for the many words of condolence and acts of kindness extended to us and especially for those to Mom from the “Elevator Ladies” at Caleb Village, who we know will continue to lift her spirits in the days ahead.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for February 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Third Avenue United Church in North Battleford.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories.  The service will be recorded and available on their website www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca .  In lieu of flowers we request you consider a memorial donation to the charity of your choice, enjoy some ice cream as you ponder on the things you are thankful for, and perform a small unknown act of kindness.

Trevor was predeceased by his parents, Myrtle and Jack, infant siblings Nancy and Roland, brothers Alfred and Edwin, sister-in law Blanche Quinn, in-laws Joe and Ethel May, brothers-in-law Larry and Alan May, and sister-in-law Edith May.  Left to celebrate his life are his loving wife Norma, daughter Donna Thiessen (Bruce) and children; Jeremy (Erin)-Liam, Karis, Brady, Silas; David (Maureen)-Avery, Arlo, Willem, Barrett; Stephen (Melissa)-Kesler, Benji; Julia Diment (Jon)-baby on board; son Stuart Quinn (Gail) and  children; Patrick (Tiffany)-Finley and baby on board; Mason; Haydon (Madison); daughter Cathy Richardson (Ken) and children; Karen (Tyrel); Mark (Antje)-May; son David (Diane) and  children; Maddy(Sara), Eddy and Jeremy; sisters-in-law Betty Quinn and Merle Ann May; Shelley Jahnke and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

 

Thank you for life – for a mind that can hold

Such rich stores of beauty that never grow old,

For words to describe scenes so others can see

The magical colour of sky, lake and tree.

And thank you for feelings that help us to know

If we look, we’ll find beauty wherever we go. – Trev Quinn

• Date : 2023-02-13
• Location : North Battleford, SK